A MOVE by environmental watchdogs to clampdown on plume grounding at Clitheroe's Castle Cement has been welcomed by campaigners.

The Environment Agency's announcement comes as a team of experts start to examine the results of recent air quality monitoring study in the Ribble Valley.

It wants to impose conditions on the company to stop any persistent haze and odour outside the Ribblesdale factory's boundary.

Campaigner Mrs Mary Horner, who is opposed to the burning of the controversial Cemfuel at the plant, said: "We must welcome this new initiative, but the people of the Ribble Valley must report all incidents of smells and plume grounding to the agency.

"Everyone should keep a diary of these incidents so the experts can see the scale of this problem."

The agency's variation notice also wants to restrict the storage of clinker, surplus cement raw material from the kiln, to inside the site boundary and under cover. It also requires the introduction of an automatic system to test Cemfuel's content before it enters the kiln. Further details will be released on February 20, when a copy of the notice is placed on the agency's public register.

The 14 days delay is to allow the company to make an application for commercial confidentiality should it be necessary.

Castle Cement's environment manager Mr Iain Walpole said: "Our initial reaction is that the agency's requirement for improvements by April 1998 to persistent haze and odours outside the works is consistent with the timetable we have already outlined for the installation of our £5 million gas scrubber."

"Cement clinker was stockpiled during 1990. The stockpile has been gradually reduced since then, but can only be integrated into production at a fixed rate.

"We, therefore, do not understand why the agency is now asking for this clinker to be moved into the quarry by June this year."

He also expressed surprise at the agency's call for the introduction of the sampling system by April, because the company had already outlined a timetable for design, installation and testing of the equipment.

Mr Walpole said the company would discuss matters with the agency.

The agency is now analysing the results of the last year's air quality monitoring study when data was collected at monitoring stations around the Ribble Valley and by a telephone hot-line for people to report ground-level air pollution.

The agency's team will review the plant and its associated activities, as well having a say in determining the application for the installation of a gas cleaning system.

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